Hand tool for turning coupling nuts and the like



Nov. 11, 1958 G. R. NELSON 2,859,649

HAND TOOL FOR TURNING COUPLING NUTS AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1956 INVENTOR. 60mm fiA/asa/v H ram 5 HAND TOOL FOR TURNING COUPLING NUTS AND THE LIKE Got-man R. Nelson, Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Application April 26, 1956, Serial No. 580,745

' 6 Claims. or. 81-61) This invention relates to apparatus for joining an elongated body, such as a hydraulic conduit to a fitting, and

' Coupling Nuts and the Like, Serial No. 580,746 and filed April 26, 1956, of even date herewith.

An object of my invention is the provision of a novel hand tool of simple and inexpensive construction and operation, which is adapted for readily releasable attachment to an externally toothed nut for turning the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved coupling nut for joining 'a' conduit or the like to a threaded device and for facilitating the use of both power driven tools and hand tools in applying torque thereto.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a hand operated tool for turning an externally toothed nut, which tool grips the nut when torque is exerted thereon in one direction and which tightens its grip on the nut as more torque is applied.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved conduit coupling nut and a tool for turning the same which are cooperatively formed to facilitate ready and easy application of the tool to the nut'in such a manner that the tool will be positively restrained from moving laterally of the nut and the tool will positively drive the nut in one rotary direction and may be freely moved around the nut periphery in the other rotary direction.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved torquing wrench for turning an externally toothed nut, which wrench is constructed in such a manner that only torquing force may be applied to the wrench to cause positive gripping of the nut in both circumferential and lateral directions.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the present invention showing the tool applied to the hydraulic conduit coupling nut;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation view of the wrench which is partly broken away and showing the nut in transverse section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tool which is removed from the nut;

Fig. .4 is an elevation view, partly broken away, of a conduit coupling nut;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation view of the nut;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a simplified modification of the nut-turning tool; and h Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section of the tool shown in Fig. 6.

The present invention provides apparatus for connecting or coupling an elongated cylindrical body such as a {Patent 0 conduit 10, which may comprise a copper tubing, to a threaded device such as fitting 11 which may be afiixed on a housing 12 or other similar support. The conduit 10 may be conventional copper tubing for carrying hydraulic fluid and may have its end flared outwardly for connection to the hydraulic nut 13. The housing 12 may embody a device such as a motor' to which lubricating oil need be supplied through the conduit 11, or a pump into which fluid must be supplied.

The hydraulic conduit coupling nut or conduit-securing nut 13 comprises a substantially conventional annular body or member having an internal cylindrical bearing surface 14 for mounting the nut on the conduit 10 for rotary movement. Nut 13 also includes an internal, annular, flared or tapering shoulder surface 15 which is adapted to bear against the flared end-of conduit 10 for drawing the conduit toward the fitting. Nut 13 is also provided with internal threads 16 formed for cooperative threaded engagement with the external male threads of the fitting 11. The nut 13 has a pair of identical, cylindrical, tool-supporting bearing surfaces 17 which are spaced from each other in an axial direction. Nut 13 also has a plurality of outwardly projecting driving teeth 18 formed on the outer periphery thereof and disposed between the cylindrical surfaces 17. The ends of the teeth 18 define a pair of guiding surfaces 19 which are spaced from each other in an axial direction and are disposed in planes which extend transversely of the nut rotation axis.

The hand tool comprising a portion of the present invention is indicated in general by numeral 20 and is provided with a frame which includes the handle 21, a pair of spaced frame plates 22 and 23 which are secured to the end of handle 21 in spaced relation with each other by means of bolts 24. The frame plates 22 and 23 have transversely projecting and curved arms 22a and 23a respectively which define a cradle structure and which have arcuate, nut-engaging bearing surface portions 25 and 26 respectively which substantially conform to the external surface contour of the bearing surfaces 17 of nut 13.

Means are provided for restricting rotary movement of the tool 21) in one direction with respect to the nut 13 and for permitting rotary movement of the tool in the opposite direction relative to the nut for imparting turning force on the nut. In the form shown, such means includes a ratcheting device indicated in general by numeral 27 and including a rotary driving element or wheel 28 and springpressed means, embodied by pawl 29 and spring 30, reacting against the wheel 28 for permitting rotation thereof in only one direction. Rotary driving wheel 28 is journalled on an axle or bolt 31 which extends through suitably provided apertures in the spaced frame plates and is secured to the frame by the nut 32. Driving wheel 28 is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting teeth 33 on the external peripherythereof and shaped and formed for meshing in driving relation with the teeth 18 of nut 13. The pawl or stop element 29 is swingably mounted on a pivot 29a which is aflixed to the frame plates 22 and 23. As best seen in Fig. 2, the pawl 29 is arranged to preclude counterclockwise rotation of the rotary driving wheel 28 so as to preclude movement of the meshed portion 33a of the teeth 33 in a direction outwardly away from the cradle structure. Spring 30 reacts against the swingable pawl 29 to maintain the same in engaged relation with the rotary driving wheel 28. Spring 30 is suitably mounted on the frame and in the form shown, is embedded in the upper clamping bolt 24 and is secured therein as by soldering.

The cradle structure is also provided with a pair of guiding surfaces 34 and 35 which are spaced from each other in a direction axially of the nut a distance substantially equal to the lengthof the teeth 18 on the nut for engaging the transverse guiding or shoulder surfaces 19 at the ends of the nut.

In operation the nut 13 will be rotatably mounted on the conduit which; is ;tobe coupled to the fitting 11. The nut 13 may be started onto the fitting as by turning it manually. The tool 20 will be applied to the nut 13 by merely moving the cradle structure over the nut periphery. The teeth 33 of the rotary driving wheel will mesh with the teeth 13 of the nut. The arcuate surface portions 25 and 26 of the cradle structure will engage and bear against the bearing surfaces 17 of the nut and the transverse guiding surfaces 34 and 35 will be disposed in face-to-face relation with the transverse guiding or shoulder surfaces 19 at the ends of the teeth 18 for engaging the same and restraining lateral movement of the tool with respect to the nut. When torque is exerted against the handle of he tool in the direction of arrow A as seen in Fig. 2, substantial pressure will be exerted by the arcuate surface portions 25 and 26 of the cradle structure against the cylindrical bearing surfaces 17 of the nut and the teeth 33 of the rotary driving wheel 28 will exert a torque upon the teeth 18 of the nut in the direction of arrow A, because the pawl 29 precludes counterclockwise rotation of the rotary driving wheel 28. The driving wheel teeth 33 and the cradle structure tightly grip the nut as torque in the direction of arrow A is exerted, and the grip on the nut is tightened as more torque is exerted. If-any axially directed forces are exerted upon the tool 20, the transverse shoulder surfaces 19 of the nut will engage the cooperatively formed guiding surfaces of the cradle structure for precluding any axial movement of the tool with respect to the nut.

When the nut has been turned through an arc in the direction of arrow A, a new grip may be taken upon the nut 13 by merely oscillating the tool 20 in a direction opposite to arrow A. When the too-l is being swung in this reversed direction, the cradle structure will slide along the cylindrical bearing surfaces 17 of the nut and the rotary driving wheel 28 will roll in the direction of arrow D around the periphery of the nut 13. The pawl 29 will be swung slightly outwardly by the teeth 33 and will permit rotation of the rotary driving wheel 28 in the direction of arrow D. 'When the tool has been repositioned on the nut, the tool may again be moved in the direction of arrow A for turning the nut again.

It will be seen that the tool may be merely oscillated about the nut rotation axis for turning the nut.

If the nut 13 is to be removed from the fitting 11 the wrench will be turned around so that the rotary driving wheel 28 engages the opposite side of the nut. As viewed in Fig. 2, the rotary driving wheel would be meshed with the teeth of the nut on the right side of the nut rather than on the left side as shown.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and is provided with a frame 40 and a handle portion 41 which is formed integrally of the frame, and is also provided with a cradle structure 42 which is substantially similar to that shown in the other form of the invention. This form of the invention may be readily and easily stamped from one piece of sheet material. In this form of the invention, the ratcheting device for turning the nut consists of an ear or pawl element 43 which .is stamped out of the frame 40 and inclined inwardly and downwardly to a position proximate to the cradle structure for engaging the teeth 18 of nut 13. The frame 40 and ear 43 may be formed of sheet metallic material such as sheet steel which is resiliently flexible. The pawl 43 will be urged inwardly by the resilience of the sheet steel at 44. The outer and lower end of the pawl 43 will engage the teeth of the nut 13 and will restrict movement of the teeth engaged thereby in a direction outwardly away from the cradle structure 42. As seen in Fig. 7, torque applied on the tool in the direction of arrow B will cause the nut to turn in the same direction. When the tool is swung in the reverse direction, the pawl 43 will be urged slightly outwardly from the nut and will slide over the teeth to permit taking a new grip on the nut. The nut will be gripped by this form of the invention in substantially the same manner as previously described in connection with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and the inner, opposed surfaces of the cradle structure 42 will engage the guiding surfaces 19 at the ends of the teeth 18 of nut 13.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved hydraulic coupling nut for securing a body such as a conduit to a fitting and which nut is adapted to readily receive and be securely gripped by a torquing tool.

It will also be apparent that I have provided a novel hand tool which is constructed for ready and easy releasable application to an externally toothed nut and which is constructed in such a manner that only torque may be applied on the tool to cause gripping thereby of the nut and in such a manner that the grip upon the nut is tightened as the torque exerted on the tool is increased.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for turning an externally toothed nut, a frame, a rotary driving wheel on the frame and having a plurality of teeth around the periphery thereof for engaging and meshing with the nut teeth, a cradle structure on the frame and cooperatively arranged with the wheel for engaging the nut and maintaining a meshed relation between the teeth of the wheel and nut, and means restricting rotation of the wheel in one direction, whereby to facilitate turning of the nut when the frame is swung.

2. In apparatus for turning an externally toothed nut, a hand tool comprising a frame, a rotary driving wheel on the frame having a plurality of teeth around the periphery thereof, a cradle structure on the frame adjacent said wheel, said cradle structure being arranged for engaging the nut and supporting the wheel in sideby-side relation with respect to the nut, said wheel having one peripheral portion proximate to the cradle structure for engaging and meshing with the nut teeth, and a stop element on the frame engaging the wheel in rotation restricting relation and being arranged to restrict movement of said meshing peripheral portion of the wheel in a direction outwardly away from the cradle structure, whereby torque in one direction about the nut axis may be applied through the wheel teeth to the nut to firmly seat the cradle structure against the nut periphery and thereby positively maintain a meshed relation between the wheel and nut teeth and to turn the nut.

3. In apparatus for turning an externally toothed nut, a hand tool comprising a frame, a cradle structure on the frame having bearing portions for engaging the nut periphery, and a ratcheting device on the frame having a driving connection with the nut teeth at a position arcuately around the nut periphery from one of said hearing portions when the nut is seated on said bearing portions, whereby the nut may be turned in a desired direction by oscillatory rotary movement of the tool about the nut rotation axis.

4. In apparatus for turning a nut with externally projecting teeth, a hand tool comprising a frame, a rotary driving wheel having a plurality of teeth around the external periphery thereof, said wheel being journalled on the frame, a cradle structure on theframe adjacent the driving wheel cooperatively arranged with respect to the nut periphery for engaging the same and maintaining the teeth of the wheel in meshed driving relation with the nut teeth, said cradle structure including a pair of spaced guiding surfaces extending transversely of the wheel rotat1on1axis and engaging the ends of the teeth of the nut and restricting movement of the" tool axially of the nut and spring-pressed means restricting rotation of said driving wheel in one direction, whereby the cradle structure may seat firmly against the nut periphery and the driving wheel will be maintained in meshed driving relation therewith for turning the same.

5. In apparatus for turning a nut with external radially projecting teeth, a hand tool comprising a frame, a cradle structure on the frame having arcuate bearing surface portions generally conforming to the contour of the nut periphery for engaging the same and moving circumferentially thereof, said cradle structure including spaced and opposed guiding surfaces extending transversely of said bearing surface portions and of the nut rotation axis for engaging the opposite ends of the nut teeth and restricting movement of the tool axially of the nut, a teethengaging driving element movably mounted on the frame having driving connection with the nut teeth adjacent the cradle structure, and spring pressed means on the frame reacting against said driving element and arranged to restrain movement of the driving element circumferentially around the nut in one direction and to permit movement of the driving element circumferentially around the nut in the other direction, whereby said bearing surface portions and said guide surfaces maintain said driving element in driving relation with the nut.

6. In apparatus for turning an externally toothed nut, a hand tool comprising a frame, a cradle structure on the frame having bearing portions for engaging the nut periphery and a spring-pressed pawl on the frame in engagement with the nut teeth at a position arcuately around the nut periphery from one of said bearing portions when the nut is seated on said bearing portions, said pawl restricting movement thereof relative to the nut when torque is exerted on the frame in one direction about the nut axis, and permitting movement of the pawl relative to the nut when torque is exerted on the frame in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,007 Sanborn Dec. 17, 1872 740,878 Lewis Oct. 6, 1903 821,280 Churchill et a1 May 22, 1906 905,992 Cutter Dec. 8, 1908 1,182,763 Green May 9, 1916 1,201,022 Conniif Oct. 10, 1916 1,763,353 Heller June 10, 1930 2,067,773 Long Jan. 12, 1937 2,536,172 Halperin Jan. 2, 1951 2,541,772 Lockard Feb. 13, 1951 2,574,424 Szetela Nov. 6, 1951 2,696,748 Relken Dec. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 51,549 Netherlands Dec. 15, 1941 668,859 Great Britain- Mar. 25, 1952 

